Wastewater study under way at Bay Park

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“I look forward to hearing the results of this study,” added County Legislator Denise Ford, who represents Long Beach and other coastal communities. “The potential of having a viable solution to treat and minimize effluent in Reynolds Channel would be a major environmental victory for the residents of Long Beach and Nassau County.”

Ochtera added that a project of such magnitude would have a profound impact on the area, both positive (getting the effluent out of a small, relatively closed body of water) and negative (pumping that effluent into the ocean).

“The solution to pollution is dilution,” she said. “The plant is one of Nassau County’s biggest headaches. It has been neglected for a very long time and has very real issues that need to be addressed. The fact that finding the funding for studies and improvements has become a joint effort, reaching across party lines and government agencies, is cause for optimism. Every bit of attention given to the plant is a step in the right direction.”

The study began this summer, and is expected to continue for about a year.